The Governess [The Little Female Academy]
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Sarah Fielding >> The Governess [The Little Female Academy]
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The good Benefico perceiving the monster's flight, and not
doubting but he had been perpetrating some horrid mischief,
immediately hastened to the brook; where he found the
half-expiring Amata floating down the stream, for her clothes had
yet borne her up on the surface of the water. He speedily stepped
in,and drew her out, and taking her in his arms, pressed her to
his warm bosom; and in a short space perceiving in her face the
visible marks of returning life, his heart swelled with kind
compassion, and he thus bespoke the tender maid: 'Unhappy damsel,
lift up thy gentle eyes, and tell me by what hard fate thou hast
fallen into the power of that barbarous monster, whose savage
nature delights in nothing but ruin and desolation. Tremble not
thus, but without fear or terror behold one who joys in the
thought of having saved thee from destruction, and will bring thee
every comfort his utmost power can procure.'
The gentle Amata was now just enough recovered to open her eyes:
but finding herself in a giant's arms, and still retaining in her
mind the frightful image of the horrid Barbarico, she fetched a
deep sigh, crying out in broken accents, 'Fly, Fidus, fly;' and
again sunk down upon the friendly giant's breast. On hearing
these words, and plainly seeing by the anguish of her mind that
some settled grief was deeply rooted at her heart, and therefore
despairing to bring her to herself immediately, the kind Benefico
hastened with her to his hospitable castle; where every imaginable
assistance was administered to her relief, in order to recover her
lost sense, and to reconcile her to her wretched fate.
The cruel Barbarico was no sooner arrived at his gloomy cave, than
he called to him his little page; who, trembling to hear the
tyrant now again returned, quickly drew near to attend his stern
commands: when drawing out of the wallet the poor Fidus, more
dead than alive, the monster cried out, 'Here, caitiff, take in
charge this smoothed-faced miscreant; and, d'ye hear me? see that
his allowance be no more than one small ounce of mouldy bread and
half a pint of standing water, for each day's support, till his
now blooming skin be withered, his flesh be wasted from his bones,
and he dwindle to a meagre skeleton.' So saying he left them, as
he hoped, to bewail each other's sad condition. But the unhappy
Fidus, bereft of his Amata, was not to be appalled by any of the
most horrid threats; for now his only comfort was the hopes of a
speedy end to his miserable life, and to find a refuge from his
misfortunes in the peaceful grave. With this reflection the
faithful Fidus was endeavouring to calm the inward troubles of his
mind, when the little page, with looks of the most tender
compassion, and in gentle words, bid him be comforted, and with
patience endure his present affliction; adding that he himself had
long suffered the most rigorous fate, yet despaired not but that
one day would give them an opportunity to free themselves from the
wicked wretch, whose sole delight was in others' torments. 'As to
his inhuman commands,' continued he, 'I will sooner die than obey
them; and in a mutual friendship perhaps we may find some
consolation, even in this dismal cave.'
This little page the cruel Barbarico had stolen from his parents
at five years old; ever since which time he had tortured and
abused him, till he had now attained the age of one-and-twenty.
His mother had given him the name of Mignon; by which name the
monster always called him, as it gratified his insolence to make
use of that fond appellation whilst he was abusing him, only when
he said Mignon he would in derision add the word Dwarf; for, to
say the truth, Mignon was one of the least men that was ever seen,
though at the same time one of the prettiest: his limbs, though
small, were exactly proportioned; his countenance was at once
sprightly and soft; and whatever his head thought, or his heart
felt, his eyes by their looks expressed; and his temper was as
sweet as his person was amiable. Such was the gentle creature
Barbarico chose to torment. For wicked giants, no less than
wicked men and women, are constantly tormented at the appearance
of those perfections in another, to which they themselves have no
pretensions.
The friendship and affection of Fidus and Mignon now every day
increased; and the longer they were acquainted, the mere delight
they took in each other's company. The faithful Fidus related to
his companion the story of his loved Amata, whilst the tender
Mignon consoled his friend's inward sorrows, and supplied him with
necessaries, notwithstanding the venture he run of the cruel
tyrant's heavy displeasure. The giant ceased not every day to
view the hapless Fidus, to see if the cruelty of his intentions
had in any degree wrought its desired effect; but perceiving in
him no alteration, he now began to be suspicious that the little
Mignon had not punctually obeyed his savage command. In order
therefore to satisfy his wicked curiosity, he resolved within
himself narrowly to watch every occasion these poor unhappy
captives had of conversing with each other. Mignon, well knowing
the implacable and revengeful disposition of this barbarous
tyrant, had taken all the precautions imaginable to avoid
discovery; and therefore generally sought every opportunity of
being alone with Fidus, and carrying him his daily provisions at
those hours he knew the giant was most likely to be asleep.
It so befell that, on a certain day, the wicked giant had, as was
his usual custom, been abroad for many hours in search of some
unhappy creature on whom to glut his hateful inhumanity; when,
tired with fruitless roaming, he returned to his gloomy cave,
beguiled of all his horrid purposes; for he had not once that day
espied so much as the track of man, or other harmless animal, to
give him hopes even to gratify his rage or cruelty; but now raving
with inward torment and despair, he laid him down upon his iron
couch, to try if he could close his eyes and quiet the tumultuous
passions of his breast. He tossed and tumbled and could get no
rest, starting with fearful dreams, and horrid visions of
tormenting furies.
Meanwhile the gentle Mignon had prepared a little delicate repast,
and having seen the monster lay himself at length, and thinking
now that a fit occasion offered in which to comfort and refresh
his long-expecting friend, was hastening with it to the cell where
the faithful Fidus was confined. At the fatal moment the giant,
rearing himself up on his couch, perceived the little Mignon just
at the entrance of the cell; when calling to him in a hollow
voice, that dismally resounded through the cave, he so startled
the poor unhappy page, that he dropped the cover from his
trembling hand and stood fixed and motionless as a statue.
'Come hither, Mignon, caitiff, dwarf,' said then the taunting
homicide: but the poor little creature was so thunderstruck he
was quite unable to stir one foot. Whereat the giant, rousing
himself from off his couch, with one huge stride reached out his
brawny arm, and seized him by the waist; and, pointing to the
scattered delicates, cried out, 'Vile miscreant! is it thus thou
hast obeyed my orders? Is this the mouldy bread and muddy water,
with which alone it was my command thou shouldst sustain that puny
mortal? But I'll--' Here raising him aloft, he was about to dash
him to the ground, when suddenly revolving in his wicked thoughts,
that if at once he should destroy his patient slave, his cruelty
to him must also have an end, he paused--and then recovering, he
stretched out his arm, and bringing the little trembler near his
glaring eyes, he thus subjoins: 'No; I'll not destroy thy
wretched life; but thou shalt waste thy weary days in a dark
dungeon, as far remote from the least dawn of light as from thy
loved companion. And I myself will carefully supply you both so
equally with mouldy bread and water, that each by his own
sufferings shall daily know what his dear friend endures.' So
saying, he hastened with him to his deepest dungeon; and having
thrust him in, he doubly barred the iron door. And now again
retiring to his couch, this new-wrought mischief, which greatly
gratified his raging mind, soon sunk him down into a sound and
heavy sleep. The reason this horrid monster had not long ago
devoured his little captive (for he thought him a delicious
morsel) was, that he might never want an object at hand to gratify
his cruelty. For though extremely great was his voracious hunger,
yet greater still was his desire of tormenting; and oftentimes
when he had teased, beat, and tortured the poor gentle Mignon, so
as to force from him tears, and sometimes a soft complaint, he
would, with a malicious sneer, scornfully reproach him in the
following words: 'Little does it avail to whine, to blubber, or
complain; for, remember, abject wretch,
I am a giant, and I can eat thee:
Thou art a dwarf, and thou canst not eat me.'
When Mignon was thus alone, he threw himself on the cold ground,
bemoaning his unhappy fate. However, he soon recollected that
patience and resignation were his only succour in this distressful
condition; not doubting but that, as goodness cannot always
suffer, he should in time meet with some unforeseen deliverance
from the savage power of the inhuman Barbarico.
Whilst the gentle Mignon was endeavouring to comfort himself in
his dungeon with these good reflections, he suddenly perceived, at
a little distance from him, a small glimmering light. Immediately
he rose from the ground, and going towards it, found that it shone
through a little door that had been left at jar, which led him to
a spacious hall, wherein the giant hoarded his immense treasures.
Mignon was at first dazzled with the lustre of so much gold and
silver, and sparkling jewels as were there heaped together. But
casting his eyes on a statue that was placed in the middle of the
room, he read on the pedestal, written in very small letters, the
following verses:
Wouldst thou from the rage be free
Of the tyrant's tyranny,
Loose the fillet which is bound
Twice three times my brows around;
Bolts and bars shall open fly,
By a magic sympathy.
Take him in his sleeping hour;
Bind his neck and break his pow'r.
Patience bids, make no delay:
Haste to bind him, haste away.
Mignon's little heart now leapt for joy, that he had found the
means of such a speedy deliverance; and eagerly climbing up the
statue, he quickly unbound the magic fillet; which was no sooner
done, but suddenly the bolts and bars of the brazen gates through
which the giant used to pass to this his treasury, were all
unloosed, and the folding-doors of their own accord flew open,
grating harsh thunder on their massy hinges. At the same instant,
stretched on his iron couch in the room adjoining to the hall, the
giant gave a deadly groan. Here again the little Mignon's
trembling heart began to fail; for he feared the monster was
awakened by the noise, and that he should now suffer the cruellest
torments his wicked malice could invent. Wherefore for a short
space he remained clinging round the statue, till he perceived
that all again was hushed and silent; when, getting down, he
gently stole into the giant's chamber, where he found him still in
a profound sleep.
But here, to the great mortification of Miss Jenny's attentive
hearers, the hour of entertaining themselves being at an end, they
were obliged to leave the poor little Mignon in the greatest
distress and fright lest the giant should awake before he could
fulfil the commands of the oracle, and to wait for the remainder
of the story till another opportunity.
In the evening, as soon as school was over, the little company
again met in their arbour, and nothing could be greater than their
impatience to hear the event of Mignon's hazardous undertaking.
Miss Dolly Friendly said that if the poor little creature was
destroyed, she should not sleep that night. But they all joined
in entreating Miss Jenny to proceed; which she did in the
following manner:
A CONTINUATION OF THE STORY OF THE GIANTS.
Now, thought Mignon, is the lucky moment to fulfil the
instructions of the oracle. And then cautiously getting up the
side of the couch, with trembling hands he put the fillet round
the monster's neck, and tied it firmly in a threefold knot; and
again softly creeping down, he retired into a corner of the room
to wait the wished event. In a few minutes the giant waked; and
opening his enormous eyes, he glared their horrid orbs around (but
without the least motion of his head or body) and spied the little
Mignon where he lay, close shrinking to avoid his baleful sight.
The giant no sooner perceived his little page at liberty, but his
heart sorely smote him, and he began to suspect the worst that
could befall; for, recollecting that he had carelessly left open
the little door leading from the dungeon to the great hall wherein
was placed the fatal magic statue, he was now entirely convinced
that Mignon had discovered the secret charm on which his power
depended; for he already found the magic of the fillet round his
neck fully to operate, his sinews all relax, his joints all
tremble; and when he would by his own hand have tried to free
himself, his shivering limbs he found refused obedience to their
office. Thus bereft of all his strength, and well nigh
motionless, in this extremity of impotence he cast about within
himself by what sly fraud (for fraud and subtlety were now his
only refuge) he best might work upon the gentle Mignon to lend his
kind assistance to unloose him. Wherefore with guileful words and
seeming courtesy, still striving to conceal his cursed condition,
he thus bespake his little captive:
'Come hither Mignon; my pretty gentle boy, come near me. This
fillet thou has bound around my neck, to keep me from the cold,
gives me some pain. I know thy gentle nature will not let thee
see thy tender master in the least uneasiness, without affording
him thy cheerful aid and kind relief. Come hither, my dear child,
I say, and loose the knot which in thy kind concern (I thank thee
for thy care) thou hast tied so hard, it somewhat frets my neck.'
These words the insidious wretch uttered in such a low trembling
tone of voice, and with such an affectation of tenderness, that
the little page, who had never before experience from him any such
kind of dialect, and but too well knew his savage nature to
believe that anything but guile or want of power could move him to
the least friendly speech, or kind affection, began now strongly
to be persuaded that all was as he wished, and that the power of
the inhuman tyrant was at an end. He knew full well, that if the
giant had not lost the ability of rising from the couch, he should
ere now too sensibly have felt the sad effects of his malicious
resentment, and therefore boldly adventured to approach him, and
coming near the couch, and finding not the least effort in the
monster to reach him, and from thence quite satisfied of the
giant's total incapacity of doing farther mischief, he flew with
raptures to the cell where Fidus lay confined.
Poor Fidus all this time was quite disconsolate; nor could he
guess the cause why his little friend so long had kept away; one
while he thought the giant's stern commands had streightened him
of all subsistence; another while his heart misgave him for his
gentle friend, lest unawares his kind beneficence towards him had
caused him to fall a sacrifice to the tyrant's cruel resentment.
With these and many other like reflections the unhappy youth was
busied, when Mignon, suddenly unbarred the cell, flew to his
friend, and eagerly embraced him, cried out, 'Come Fidus, haste,
my dearest friend; for thou and all of us are from this moment
free. Come and behold the cruel monster, where he lies, bereft of
all his strength. I cannot stay to tell thee now the cause; but
haste, and thou shall see the dreadful tyrant stretched on his
iron couch, deprived of all his wicked power. But first let us
unbar each cell, wherein is pent some wretched captive, that we
may share a general transport for this our glad deliverance.'
The faithful Fidus, whose heart had known but little joy since he
had lost his loved Amata, now felt a dawning hope that he might
once more chance to find her, if she had survived their fatal
separation; and, without one word of answer, he followed Mignon to
the several cells, and soon released all the astonished captives.
Mignon first carried them to behold their former terror, now, to
appearance, almost a lifeless corpse; who on seeing them all
surround his couch, gave a most hideous roar, which made them
tremble, all but the gentle Mignon, who was convinced of the
impotence of his rage, and begged them to give him their
attendance in the hall; where they were no sooner assembled than
he showed them the statue, read them the oracle, and told them
every circumstance before related.
They now began to bethink themselves of what method was to be
taken to procure their entire liberty; for the influence of the
magic fillet extended only to the gates of the hall; and still
they remained imprisoned within the dismal cave; and though they
knew from the oracle, as well as from what appeared, that the
monster's power was at an end, yet still were they to seek the
means of their escape from this his horrid abode. At length
Mignon again ascended the couch to find the massy key, and spying
one end of it peep out from under the pillow, he called to Fidus,
who first stepped up to his friend's assistance; the rest by his
example quickly followed; and now, by their united force, they
dragged the ponderous key from under the monster's head; and then
descending they all went to the outer door of the cave, where,
with some difficulty, they set wide open the folding iron gates.
They now determined to dispatch a messenger to the good Benefico
with the news, which they knew would be so welcome to him and all
his guests, and with one voice agreed that Fidus should bear the
joyful tidings; and then returned to observe the monster, and to
wait the coming of Benefico. The nimble Fidus soon reached the
giant's dwelling, where, at a little distance from the castle, he
met the good Benefico with a train of happy friends, enjoying the
pleasures of the evening, and the instructive and cheerful
conversation of their kind protector. Fidus briefly told his
errand; and instantly Benefico, with all his train, joyfully
hastened to behold the wonders he had related; for now many hearts
leapt for joy, in hopes of meeting some friend of whom they had
been bereft by the cruelty of the savage Barbarico.
They were not long before they arrived at the horrid cave, where
Benefico, proceeding directly to the monster's chamber, suddenly
appeared to him at the side of his couch. Barbarico, on seeing
him, gave a hideous yell, and rolled his glaring eyes in such a
manner as expressed the height of rage and envious bitterness.
Benefico, turning to all the company present, thus spoke, 'How
shall I enough praise and admire the gentle Mignon for having put
in my power to justice on this execrable wretch, and freeing you
all from an insufferable slavery, and the whole country from their
terror?' Then reaching the monster's own sword, which hung over
his couch, his hand yet suspended over the impious tyrant, he thus
said, 'Speak, wretch, if yet the power of speech is left thee; and
with thy latest breath declare, what advantage hast thou found of
all thy wicked life?'
Barbarico well knew that too bad had been that life, to leave the
least room for hope of mercy; and therefore, instead of an answer,
he gave another hideous yell, gnashing his horrid teeth, and again
rolling his ghastly eyes on all around.
Benefico seeing him thus impenitent and sullen, lifted on high the
mighty sword, and with one blow severed his odious head from his
enormous body.
The whole assembly gave a shout for joy; and Benefico holding in
his hand the monster's yet grinning head, thus addressed his
half-astonished companions: 'See here, my friends, the proper
conclusion of a rapacious cruel life. But let us hasten from this
monster's gloomy cave; and on the top of one of our highest
mountains, fixed on a pole, will I set up this joyful spectacle,
that all the country round may know themselves at liberty to
pursue their rural business or amusements, without the dread of
any annoyance from a devouring vile tormentor. And when his
treasures, which justly all belong to the good patient Mignon, are
removed, we will shut up the mouth of this abominable dwelling;
and, casting on the door a heap of earth, we'll hope, in time,
that both place and remembrance of this cruel savage may in time
be lost.'
Every one readily cried out, that to Benefico, the good Benefico,
alone belonged the tyrant's treasures; that Benefico should ever
be, as heretofore, their governor, their father, and their kind
protector.
The beneficent heart of the good giant was quite melted with this
their kind confidence and dependence upon him, and assured them,
he should ever regard them as his children: and now, exulting in
the general joy that must attend the destruction of this savage
monster, when the whole country should find themselves freed from
the terror his rapine and desolation, he sent before to his
castle, to give intelligence to all within that happy place of the
grim monster's fall, and little Mignon's triumph; giving in charge
to the harbinger of these tidings, that it should be his first and
chiefest care to glad the gentle bosom of a fair disconsolate (who
kept herself retired and pent up within her own apartment) with
the knowledge that the inhuman monster was no more; and that
henceforth sweet peace and rural innocence might reign in all
their woods and groves. The hearts of all within the castle
bounded with joy, on hearing the report of the inhuman monster's
death, and the deliverance of all his captives, and with speedy
steps they hastened to meet their kind protector; nor did the
melancholy fair one, lest she should seem unthankful for the
general blessing, refuse to join the train.
It was not long after the messenger that Benefico, and those his
joyful friends, arrived: but the faithful Fidus alone, of all
this happy company, was tortured with the inward pangs of a sad
grief he could not conquer, and his fond heart remained still
captivated to a melting sorrow: nor could even the tender
friendship of the gentle Mignon quite remove, though it
alleviated, his sadness; but the thoughts of his loved lost amata
embittered every joy, and overwhelmed his generous soul with
sorrow.
When the company from the castle joined Benefico, he declared to
them in what manner their deliverance was effected; and, as a
general shout of joy resounded through the neighbouring mountains,
Fidus, lifting up his eyes, beheld in the midst of the multitude,
standing in a pensive posture, the fair disconsolate. Her tender
heart was at the instant overflowing in soft tears, caused by a
kind participation of their present transport, yet mixed with the
deep sad impression of a grief her bosom was full fraught with.
Her face, at first, was almost hid by her white handkerchief, with
which she wiped away the trickling drops, which falling, had
bedewed her beauteous cheeks: but as she turned her lovely face
to view the joyful conquerors, and to speak a welcome to her kind
protector, what words can speak the raptures, the astonishment,
that swelled the bosom of the faithful youth, when in this fair
disconsolate he saw his loved, his constant, his long-lost Amata!
Their delighted eyes in the same instant beheld each other, and,
breaking on each side from their astonished friends, they flew
like lightning into each other's arms.
After they had given a short account of what had passed in their
separation, Fidus presented to his loved Amata the kind, the
gentle Mignon, with lavish praises of his generous friendship, and
steady resolution, in hazarding his life by disobeying the
injunctions of the cruel tyrant. No sooner had Amata heard the
name of Mignon, but she cried out, 'Surely my happiness is now
complete, and all my sorrows, by this joyful moment, are more than
fully recompensed; for, in the kind preserver of my Fidus, I have
found my brother. My mother lost her little Mignon when he was
five years old; and pining grief, after some years vain search,
ended her wretched life.'
The generous hearts of all who were present shared the raptures of
the faithful Fidus, the lovely Amata, and gentle Mignon, on this
happy discovery; and in the warmest congratulations they expressed
their joy.
Benefico now led all the delighted company into his castle, where
freedom was publicly proclaimed; and every one was left a liberty
either to remain there with Benefico, or, loaded with wealth
sufficient for their use, to go where their attachments or
inclinations might invite them.
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